Multiple-unit control for vehicle doors



H. ROWNTREE ET AL MULTIPLE UNIT CONTROL FOR VEHICLEV DOORS June 4, 1929.

Filed March' 1, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet own June 4, 1929. Hf RQWNTREEv ET ALA 1,715,515

MULTIPLE UNIT CONTROL FOR VEHICLE DOORS l F'i`led\ March l, 1926 `4Sheets-SheetI v2 LIP,

LUL

Ju'ne 4,- 1929. H. ROWNTREE ET AL MULTIPLE UNIT CONTROL FOR VEHICLEDOORS Filed March l. 1926 4 Sheets-She@J 5 June 4, 1929. 1-1. ROWNTREEET AL MULTIPLE UNIT CONTROL FOR VEHICLE DOORS 4 SheetS-Shee 4 l FiledMarch l, 1926 ol a single operator, who would be stationed V.dat thepoint A1 of the car A. vThe circuits for one side of" the-f cars onlyhave` been shown, for the sake of simplicity, since the trol,-regardless of thepositioii of` the trap.

'Vfllie button directly below it inarkedC Vis purpose otr-closing allthe doors that lopen,with thezexceptionof the door` at the A.controlpoint. Thebutton. indicated:bythev letter 4His intended` to openall'tlie doors intended for the purpose of closing` this door. The nextbutton markedl c isfor' the are to be Vused ataliigh level platform, andthe buttoiilli is toibe used to open all doors adapted for-entrance ,andexit at lolw level platforms. yAt the end Ag of the car A is '5a similarlive buttoncontrol boXQ; at the V-endjBl ofthe car B is anotherlivebutton control boX ,3,.and at the end B2 of the car l B visV anotherfive button'lcontrolboxzt'. Lo-

cated at each end ofeach car and adjacent the control boXesjareth'ethree position drum 'i VThe contacts on these drum switches which 'are.all alike yare.arrangedfinthree rows and CR l the contact fingers areon ftlierow" ofcoiitacts marked Train the circuits oftliat car Yarecontinued onto thegnext oar and also on to the pointof control. then thecon` tactliiigers are. ont-he contacts marked Off, the trainl circuitsare broken.v at thatpoint and when they are onthe vcontacts marked Onthecontrol boX adjacent that vdrum switchy is` placed .inf -control ofthe train l lines.- Y Thus:V by Ymeans of these. drumrvswitches,.the=trainmay be broken up into a. iiiany units as desired,coinprisingaiiy number of cars. l l

. ly/ounted adjacent the vtraps `of veach of the doors a pole switch,vcomprising a.

spindle 9, andhavingfrnoiinted on ita nictallic terrule 9, kThe poleswitchy is sogasso]- ciated with its. trap that it places vthe jlerruleVin contact rwith eltllerof. the two sets of con# tact Vfingers,dependingupon the position of lthe trap which.A operates it. Referringto one side .of the cars only, there are shown doors 17' and V20 on thecar B.

tliejdoors 13 and 16. on the car A and the Associatedrespectivelywitlrthese doors are trapsV .14

and 15 "on car-A andthe traps 18 and -19on can Bef, l.peratedrespectively by these traps are .the pole switcheslk and 10 oii car lA.andfllaiid 121cm carB. The pole 'switches 10, 11aiid 12 have;mountedA ontheml thecontactingferr'ules 10", 11:"rv aii`d12, respectively.

Adjacent each V,door and operatively .con-

nected with them are the.j'uneuinatic door opeiiiiig engines 21, 22, v23and 24, respectively, with their electric control valves.

Each, ca r has extending throughoutl its length and. passing` throughthe drum 4switches, the car lines 25,'26yand 27, onV theV sociating thecircuits ofthe adjacent cars tionalized bymeans ,of the drumswitches. a

"The operation of this particular. system is asfollows1-e For purposesof description, we will as# sume that a particular unit under thecontrol of the operator comprises merely the two cars A. and B. Y Thecircuits are' so yarranged that the .operator must stand at. the.control point A1." Whenthe train pulls into a Vstavcontrol boxl'causing' the door engineto openldoor 13 regardless of the position otvthencories V)ondinotra 3.. Closure of ush l 1: button 0 establishesacircuitroni the posiends ofwliich are the connectors 28ffor as# withcach other. These train linesare sec tion,tlie operator pushes thebutton0 ofthe 'j tive'sideot the curi'eiitsource through push button io, wire1070, drum switch contact to .wire v101,- opening `magnetl valve A'102lto ground 103. -lllagnet valve 102 isof the wellj known type inthis'artdiscloe'edltl'or instance i inthe patent toRowntree,1,292,077, Januaryv21, 191,9. and serves to `admit fluid pres- 1 sureto engiiieQl tocause-door 13 to' open.

l/Vhen button 'C is pushed, lthe `following circuit is formed: from thepositive Yside `rol tliecurrent source*7 throughv push button C,

'.wiie10?, the Acontact onVv the drum switch,

wire V105, magnet valvej106 to ground at 103.1

This `operates the engine 21 to close door 13. The inagnet'valve 106 isof thesaine'charac ter ,as magnet valve 102. It isfto be noted that thedoor adjacent the control pointis under the control of theoperatorindependently of. the position of the trap 'at the co `nioo trolpoint. In otherwords the pole switches u and circuits are arranged sothat tlie'door adjacent tlie coiitrol'pointinay beoperated'in- Y'fdependcntly ofthe trap. The operator by lookingfoutthedoor may thentell whether "the stationnpresentsa high or Vlow ylevel pl'at- Y' lforni. itbe av high levelv platform, none of the traps are disturbed,but thehigh level button H' is depressed `causing the curreif'itl todown.. By closing tlie'push buttonniarked rl, the following circuit -isestablished: from the positive side of the current sour-ce through pushbutton H, wire 107, the contact on drum switch 5, .wire26, wire 108',ferrule 10, wire Y 113, Contact on-drum switch 6, wire-11st',

opening niagnet-valve 102 and thenceto groundY at 103. rlhis' causesengine 22, to f" open `door 16 andv there are `opened simultaneously allother doors. with their traps.

polel down so that the corresponding fiswitchesfcomplete the circuits tothe opening magnet valves ofthe corresponding doors (as, for instancedoor 20). 'After .all the 1105". openail the-doors which'have theirAtraps passengers 'have departed `troni the train and b'oardedthe train,the operator 'may' then push the lower button marked c, and all doorswhich are open will close except the door 13. Closure of pushbutton 0establishes' the following,` circuit: from the positive sideof thecurrent source through push button c', wire 111, the control or druinswitch, 5, wire 27, wire 112', the contact on Ydrum invitch` 6, wire105, closinginagnet 106 and thence tojground Vat 103."l`his 'causes door16 to close and .similarly all other doors-that are open become closed.It.

the station had been a low level station, the

train conductors would then raise all the .traps and when the operatorpressed the button inarled L, all the doors would open,

whose traps had` been raised. When'switch"v L is closedf'the followingcircuit is estab- Y o lished: from the positive side of the vcurrentsource through buttonL, wire 109, ,the .con-

` tact on druin switch 5, wire 25,the V"Contact on drum Vswitch 6,connected to wire 25, wire 25 to' the nextv car,`the contact on drinnlVswitch 7 connected to wire 25, wire 25 on ear B, wire 5110, ferrule11', wire 113, the contact on drum switch ,connected to wire 113, wire11%, opening, magnet Valve 102 and thence to ground at 103". f Thisopens ydoor 17 and similarly all.V other doors having their tra'psfup.lltv is to be understood that the respective pole switches` are' properlypositioned in vaccordance with the positions ofthelcorresp'onding'traps.` i However, it for any reasonl some particulartrapl had not been raisedv that doorwill not openV when the low levelbutton is pushed.

Here a02-in when the lower button marked'- V :p .1 f c is depressed allthe doors which are open will close. The button inarlred C directlyaboreit will 'close only the door adjacent the point of control.A By theioregoingdescription, itV is eviiil'ent 'that the operator may controlall the doors reinot'e troni .his station regardless .of thepositionA ofhis trap, but low level doors will not be opened, vwhere 'the traps aredown, nor will highA level doors `be opened where the traps are up.

' Referring to Fips. 2 and 2a there is disclosedV "lcation oi;ourinvention, character-2 the feature that -l the circuits are under thecontrol at the trap ot the door, Yat* a ined 1 Virc-o pi the point oftlfe control. For purposes ot description, vthe unit vundercontrol ofthe operator coniprises the two cars, C and" As previously stated anyunit may comprise, ,n

" ed number of cars.' At the control.

any des;i point C1 is a four but-ton control 005150. A

Y sinii'lar controlboi; 51 isfatjthepoint-C?, a} 5'0" a. similarcontr'olbox 53is at the point-D2` these vcontrol boxes'l-areytliree'position drum switches as beforev V54e, 55, 5.6 and,I57,respectively., AThe, construction of theseV drinn switc similarcontroly box 52 isL att-he vpoint D1, and

its ociated with' each of ies has `already been described'and as statedthey serve the y purpose of ysectionalizing` 'the-train lines. The car'C has the "door 65 and lits trap-i6@ v and the door 7 `withit's'trap68..l The trap V66 operates the .p'o'le''switch 58 with Aits contactinfrferrule 59 as before.V `'The 4trap 68 y'operates its pole switchOwithfits contactinn' ferrulel, On the .cary D isthedoor 70 kf, and itstrap 69 which operates its pole switch (p32 having the contacting`errule G3 andthe door72l'andlits trap 71. which controls the poleswitch-6e, with its contacting ferrule 65. The vdoors 65766,70 and 72are:respectively operated by meansofthe pneumatic door vengines 73, 721, 75vand 7 6, respectively,so.r` with 'their -electricallyf'foperatedlvalves. lt may be vstated that theseY door engines are of fthe usual'and well known VconstructienA v and torni no Apart 'othis invention. -A`Each ofthe cars employing this `modified circuit Yhas the train lines77, 78,5andf79. which are sectionalized-yinto anyl desired"v c numberofg'rjoiil s comprising' any-number ot" 'car f circuits bynieansyotythe' drinn switches as statedl before. "The rends of. the`train lineare equipped with vtheconnectors SOLFor associatingv ,thecircuitsof the 'adjacent cars. Vand well known type employed in this-Vart.- i When 'a train 'employing this-circuit far--vr rangement pullsintof a station, thejoperater who is stationedat the point C1depresses'the push button. marked oto'open the door 65', adjacent thepointfof control regardless of the' position ott-he trap.v Closureofpushbutton 0 completes the "following circuit: from the positive side of thecurrent source" 4through upper pushk button 0, wire 120,:wire 121,magnet valve '122 and the-nce toV ground. atf124l. As a result, door A65opens, Hc then ascertains; whether the station isv equipped with. highor low levelplatforins. It' itis a high leyelfplatiforin, he leaveshis'rtrap' down and i pushesthe' lower` button marked 0. ""Thetollovifingicircuit is forrned.: -l Hl' troni lthe positiye Jsideoitptecurrentsoure through the lower'push button marked- 0, wire125,^wire V126', wire 140, errule 59. Vwire lll-1, 'wire-77,. wire 142,errule `61, which .is

moved over asthe trap isdown, wire 143, wirelll, wire1112,1ferrule 61,wire' 143', 4 wirev` f 144,' 'opening 'Inagnet 145 and thence to groundat 146. This opens door'67; ''l`hecur-VV f 'rent also trayels'fjthroughwire .77, wire v1507 l ferrule 65, wire1-151,fwire)152, 'opening nur' fI net' 153 and thencetojgroundat `154e*This" opens'door 72. rhus will'benoted that onlythose doors are opened *whose.traps'arev i in thesaineposition asy the trap at' the con-f ltrolpgoint'. Similarly to .Open thedoor 70* push buttonv 0 is depressed, the current then Y flows fromthepositive' side of" thejcurrent. source through'the push button'o,wire y125,'

These connectorsare ot the`usual f f magnet valvef122 tok gro'undat1241." This causes door() to open.` This opens all the doors in the unitunder his control whosev traps are down. By pushing the lower but-` tonmarked c all'the doors which are open with the exceptionof the. one atthe point olf control will loe closed. `VThe currentin this casepasseslroin the positive' sideot the current source through lower pushbutton 0, wire 12,8,wire 129, to wire 79 and vthence to wires'129, 131and 1.33 and linally toe-the closing magnet valve y on each enginethrough wires 130, 182 andltrespectively. This causes all open doors toclose except the one at-the point of control. It his vinspecf tiondiscloses the train at a station equipped with low level platiormalheraises the trapy .fof the door Vadjacent the control-point.which'operates thepole switch to the position illusi trated, in the drawings,wherethe train has ,been illustrated as arranged 'for useat allow levelstation; `The operatorfthen pushes lthe lower button which' closestheiopeningcircuits tothe door engines of all vdoorswhose traps-are up;thus only the doors with the traps raised .will beopened andtliosehaving lthetraps closed will not be operated. `The Vfollowing circuit.is formed I in this case fromA the positive side of the current sourcethrough lowerpush button o, wire 125, wire 126, eirule 59, wire 127,wire 78, through drum switchv 55, Wire 78, wire 127, Vterrule 63,-wiref126, wire.` 121', opening magnet valve 122l and similarly thence Yto lground. 124:. `Door 70 is opened and all other doors with. theirtraps up. vAgain by pushing the lower button marked c, rvall openy doorswill `loeclosed with the 'exception of the Vdoor atv the` point ofcontrol. lThe upper 'button marked 0 is merely forthe purpose of closingthe door adjacent thepoint of control. The door G at the control pointis Aclosed `by means ot upper push button c. The following circuitv isformed: from the positive side i fot the current source throughrthe.closure'fof .upper push huttonc, wire 150, wire 151, clos-V inginagnet123 and thenceto ground at 121i.

vThe path of `The circuits inthe two groups of drawings have heen'shownand arranged for operation ata ,stationliavinga low level-'plattorin-`the Current in Veach .instance has been specifically indicated.77TNith'th'e Vaid ot lthe `foregoing description, it is believed thatone skilled in the art may readily follow out tither path of thecurrentin the circuits for Y each ofthe-operations indicated (l0y `fiif'hichwill suggest themselves to one skilled inthe art Y'without involvinginvention', and." wedo not,theretore, desire to Vloe limited-Atothe'particular arrangements illustrated'in fthe drawings and,describedpin the specifica-l 7e havenowV described our invention` Yembodying the fundamental .principles as indicated which may beemployedin circuits of Vmany Vvmoditiczitions and arrangements tion, but ratherto thev spirit and scope of our invention, as wehave defined it inthetraps Ior the highlevel doors heingdown."

2..'In a train comprising a plurality. of cars having doors and traps,iiieanstcioper ating each door, means connected to said' meansoioperating veach V,door andV controlled its trap for rendering eachdoorKV suitable for'foperatioir for highV revel or' low level platformsandcoininon'control means by United StatesA k7o l or'causing the lowlevel doors Vto open, the

traps for the low level doors vbeing up.

3. vln a train comprising a plurality of cars having doors and traps,means foi'oper-` ating each door, means connected Lto said'v Vmeans foroperating each door and con-..

tiolled by its trapA for vrendering each door suitable 'for operationtor high level or low' levelV platforms and common' means for causingeither the doors arranged :tor high orlow level operation toopen,depending upon the position .of the traps.

4;. In a Vtrain comprising a plurality .of

ears', having doors and traps, means for operating each door, meansVconnectedy to said j meansv for operating each door'. and controlledbysaid traps tor rendering each door suitable for operation. for highlevel or low level platforms, common control station,

common means forv causing. the high level doors 'to open and separateopening and clos`- ing means for the door adjacent the'common controlstation. e In a train lcomprising a plurality of.

cn s having dooisand traps, means for oper-v 0- each door, meansconnected to said means for operating each door and conf trolled ioysaid traps for rendering each` door Vsuitable'tor operation for highlevel or lowy level platforms, a Vcommon controlk station,

'common means :tor-.causing the 'low level doors `to open and separateopening andv closingmeans for the door adjacent the ,common controlsta-tion.v f

G. ln a train comprising Va plurality of `cars having doors and traps',means for operating door, means connectedto said means'-for operatingeachr doorl and con- Vtrollekjlhy saidA traps for rendering eachdoor 4 nsuit-able for opei'ationtoi high level or low level platforms, a commoncontrol station, common means for causing eitherthedoors arranged yforhighY orv low level operation to open as desired, and separateopening'jand closing means foi the door adjacent Vthe-v common controlstation. l L Y 7. In a train comprising -a plurality of cars, having`doors and traps, means for oper- .ating each door, means connected tosaid means lier operatingeach door and con--Y trolled by `said traps.iiorrendering,- each door suitable for operation for high level ori-glowlevel platforms, aA common control statiomacommon meansA for causingithehigh' level doors Vto open, commony mea-iis 'iforA` closing all doorsthat are open and separate opening and closing nie-ansfor thedooradjacentthe common control station. u

8. ln a train comprisingl a plurality of cars havingV doors and traps,means for oper-V ating veach door, means connected .to said means foroperating each door and controlled by said traps for rendering eachdooiisuit-. able for operation for high level or low level platform, acommony .control station, coin-` mon means for causing the low leveldoors to open, common means for closing all the doors that are open andseparate opening,"

and vclosing` means for the dooradjacent the` common control station.

9. In a train'comprising a plurality oi' cars, having doors and traps,means 'for oper- `lall doorsrthat areopen, and separate open-` ingandclosing means for the door adjacent Y for trains .comprisinga pluralityof carsv l y Y n v p .1 1. nl

valves, circuits including said `eiectiica the common control station.

10.A In a multiple unit door c ontrolsystem for 'trains comprising aplurality or ycars having doors; and traps, the combinatioiroif' meansfor openingV the doors, a common con;

trol point, means for controlling the operation ofthemeans foropeningthe doors, and

means operatedv bythe trap. adjacent thev Control point for putting thedoor'opening means under the' influence of the controlling means. Y f

11'. In a. multiple unit Vdoor control system Vfor trains comprising aplurality of cars having` doors and traps, means for Vopening` :andclosing` the doers, common means con-` trolling said means, circuitconnectionsbetween the said means and means in said. circuit `operatedby the' trap adjacent the control means for controllingthe circuitWhereybyonly'doors Whose traps/ are thesame position as said trap areopened.V u

12. In a multiple unit door control svstein havingdoois and traps, meansfor opening vand closing the doors, common means controlling; saidmeans, circuit connections between*V the said means, meansin saidcircuit operated vvby lthe vtiiapf :adj acent p the kcontrol, meansforassociating'the circuits whereby' only doors Whose'tr'apsf are in thesameposiv tion ysaid trap is opened and 'commonineansior c los'iI igallopendooi's.

ing,` the dfoorscontrollledj by magnets'ineans 'for energizing saidmagnets, vcircuitfconnections between said magnets' and saidenergi'zingmeans'nieansin said circuit'o'pers atedfby the traps for closing saidcircuit' to all doors vvi'thti'aps in the same position, and means forbreaking the train circuits into a predetermined number of units.

14. In a multiple unit door control system i for 'trains comprisingI aplurality oi" cars 'having'doors andltraps, the combinationjo pneumaticineansfor opening and closing the doors under lthe rcontrol ot' thetraps having electrically operatedk valves, circuits includingelectrical' valve *operating means andmeansjiii said circuits at acontrolpoint for opening the door adjacent thereto re- `,q'a,idless ofthe position of its trap. Y' u n *15,V a: multipleunit'door controlsystem,

for trains, comprising a' .plurality of cars having);` doors and itrap's,'tlwieA combination off*k pneumatic means for opening` .and closing`the doors under the :controlofthe traps i having' electrically operatedvalves, vcircuits y including said electrical valve operatino means,means in said circuits at a control pointl for Y openingthe door:adjacent the control pointregardless oi the position oi thecor-nesponding` trap, vand, means "for openioo i ing-'all thev otherdoors in lthe unitfwliose traps 'are' in thesame position-.as the trapof the door` at the control point.

Y* 1 6. In a multiple unit door controlsystem vfor ytrains comprising aplurality of cars having doorsand traps, the combination of `pneumaticvmeans orgopening andV closing" the, doors having l electrically operatedvalves, circuits including `said electrical valve operatingmeansandunder the control ofsaid traps, means in said circuits; at a, controlpoint for opening the door adjacent the control point regardlessoi theposition ofthe corresponding trap, means for open,- `ing all the otherdoors 'in .the unit whosel ytra-ps vareinthesaine position as tlie'tiapofthe ldoor-'at thecontrol" point, and means for sectionalizing thetrain circuits yinto any desired number of groups.

17.111 a multiple unit Adoor control syst-:ein i for 'trains'eomprisinga v plurality "of cars having doors and traps the combination ofpneumatic means' for'openingv and closing the doors having electricallyoperated valve operating meansy under' the control the control pointregardlesso'flthe vposition ofi the corresponding trap, and means 'forclosing all open doors 18.Y In a multiple unitdoor control system,` fortrains coifnprising` a plurality or' carsr vhaving doorsand traps, thecombinationV or electrical circuits for each 'carconti'olledby fortrainsA comprising 'a plurality of cars l having doors and traps, thecombination of electrical'circuits for each cai' controlled said traps,meansfor sectionalizing the circuits into groups con'iprising those ofany desiredl number of cars, and common means in the circuits of eachgroupv for opening the doors of the groups whose traps' are in the sameAposition as that of the door at a con trol point. i

20.' -In a multiple unit door control system for trains comprising aplurality or'. cars having doors, and traps, the combination ofelectrical circuits foreach car' controlled by responding traps openinoperative.V

saidtraps, means for sectionalizing the circuits yinto kgroupscomprising those of vany desired'Vv number ot cars, common means in theVYcircuits of each groupv for opening [the Vthe door 'at trie doors oitthe vgroups whose traps are in the ysaine positionas that'of the door'at a control point,and means in the Vcircuits of each `group, forclosingall open doors of the group. Y

21. In a multiple unit door control system for a trainr comprisingaplurality of cars.

fluenced by the traps to associate'the circuits,

so `that only doors whose traps areY the same position as that oi' thedoor at a control point willjbe opened and means for opening` point ofcontrol regardless Voi' i rfor high level platforms when the trap-isinits closed position, a 'door for each vdoorway,`

the position of its trap. l f .v 22. In multiple 'unitdoorfcontrolsystem for a train comprising a'plurality of VCars having`doors and traps,ithe combinationr of means vfor vopening the doorshaving magnet l means controlling them, circuits l'for said magnetmeans, ni'eans in said circuits for operating said magnet. means, meansin* luencedfby the traps to associate the circuitsJ -fso thatYonlydoorsf whose traps are in the vsame position as that ofj the doorat a controlV point'will befopened, meansfo'r opening the door at thepoint of rcontrol regardless of the position, of-its trap 'and meansor'elosing all open doors. Y 1 V l ,l i .23. VThe combination with oneor more cars lcontrolling the operating K Y said doors,V meansor'rendering operativehigh level platforms when thetraps are in n closedposition, a door for each doorway,

means underV the control of said traps for operating each door,'a commonmeans for c ontrollingthe operating` means oiiall said doors, and meansfor rendering operative all of the door operating means when the trapsare in closed position to render the doorways accessible for high levelplatforms.

24. The combination with one or'more carsA having a plurality ofdoorways,steps in said doorways, atrap for said stepsto render each'Adoorway accessible Afor low level platforms when the trap isinoneposition, and for high level platforms when the trap is in 'so'Y itsclosed positioma door for each doorway,

25. The combination with one or inore'cars having a plurality ofdoorways, steps in said doorways, a trap for said steps to render eachdoorway accessible orlow level platforms when the trap is in oneposition, and for high level lplatforms when the trap is in its closedposition, a door for each doorway, means underthe control of said traps'for operating said door, a common means for controlling the operatingmeans of all said f doors, andmeans for rendering'operative all of' thedoor operating means for operating all of the doors, the position of thetrap or' which is the same as thes'trap ot rainaster .door on a ear ortrain.

v'26. They combination with one or more j ears having a plurality ofdoorways, steps in;

said doorways, a trap Yfor said steps to render each doorway accessible-for low level'plat-I forms when the trapy is inv one position,- andmeans under the control of said traps forl operating saidA door, avcommon means fori means of all' oit all A01": the door operating means,and means w for rendering inoperative alloi the doors.

`whose traps are not inthe same position as the trap of'a master door ofthe train or cai'. In testimony whereof lwe have hereunto set our handsLon vthis 26th vday of February,

HAROLD HowNrHnH-: JOHN H. VANDER viaria.v

llO

